Apparatus for distributing agricultural chemicals



W. W. FUNK June 14, 1960 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1957 fi m-HIM INVENTOR WELKER W. FUNK BY W ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. w. FUNK 2,940,209

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Filed Dec. 23, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 w a!) r 8 $1 3 1 I 01V 00 Q m w 99 i INVENTOR WELKER w. rum:

ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w, w K 2,940,209

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Filed Dec. 23, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WELKER W. FUNK ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. w. FUNK 2,940,209

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Filed Dec. 23, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 use 1 2 M war '52 I56 I50 I50 I I40 I54 54 I h I! I46 152 I534 I INVENTOR WELKER W. FUNK BY ,Q W /W ATTO RN EY W. W. FUNK June 14, 1960 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 23, 1957 u o 2 2 6 m o s Ma 86% l 22 2% WELKER W. FUNK www- ATTORNEY W. W. FUNK June 14, 1960 9 SheetsSheet 7 Filed Dec. 23, 1957 INVENTOR WELKER W. FUNK mm Li Whiz/j W m m m-H-Hi WNMIIJ LTLv m wwTU Lvwmw mm 3h mm. m wPN \..m ..m N2 Qwm mow NE. NE 9N N2 w I Q 9 ff 4% LT MT i U 9m QN V N/\P|N NHW/L\ CON N N wNN wvm l wow wow u Q I :1} 0 u 1 o2 wflrw vL wm m g 09 W w m cm. w wom all m w cm. 3.. UIImQ m9 I|\\ 9m ATTORNEY W. W. FUNK June 14, 1960 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Filed Dec. 25, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 @mm #mm own I I I [I] I I J Ill all Oh 0PM @QN \m Nm@ 1 Ohm ON. a 3 mwm a 3m I T I wwm ow mm or or 0/ 1 mm I I o I I Q Q I I I 85 2 WWW @m 8 9m m a Em a 35 I $3 o5 a 60m 0 a a o a O 0mm mmm III I/IIL mm Nwm mmm 6 m 0mm En mFAF INVENTOR WELKER W. FUNK BY ba ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. w. FUNK 2,940,209

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS Filed Dec. 23, 1957 9 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR WELKER W. FUNK ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AGRICUL- TURAL CHEMICALS V/elher W. Funk, Moline, IE,- assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation t Delaware Filed Des:r 23, I957, Ser. No. 704,759

10 Claims. (Cl. 43-148) This invention appertains to apparatus for distributing agricultural chemicals and. more particularly relates to an apparatus for applying. pesticide, fungicide,v or the like, in the form of sprays and dusts.

To meet the requirements of farmers and orchardists, working small and medium size farms, a versatile pesticide and fungicide applicator is needed which. may be easily and readily adjusted to vary the discharge pmtern and the direction of discharge of the pesticide or fungicide and to treat many types of crops with. difierent varieties and concentrations of pesticide: or fungicide; Thus, such. an applicator must be capable of spraying, dusting, and applying both. spray and dust at the same time in. an operation which will hereinafter be referred to as liqui-dusting. The applicator should also be adaptable for use in orchards and in fields" utilized for row crop operations.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an improved versatile apparatus for distributing agricultural chemicals toboth orchards and row crops.

Another object is to provide a distributing apparatus having improved means for metering and directing powdered material into an air stream for even distribution of the powdered material.

Another object is to provide an improved metering device which is arranged to fiuidize powdered material prior to discharging the same for entrainment in an air stream.

Another object is to provide a pesticide distributing apparatus having an improved discharge head.

Another object is to provide a. pesticide distributing apparatus having improved means for shifting the dis charge head laterally, which shifting means is operable from a position spaced from the discharge head.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawings; in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective oi the apparatusof the present mvention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. l with certain parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along lines 5-5 ofFig; 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken along lines 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section taken along lines 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective of a portion of. the discharge head of the apparatus of the present invention. 7

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the discharge head of Fig. 10.

atent 2,940,209 Cfi Patented, June 14,. 19-50 Fig. 12 is a perspective of the shifting and latching device for the discharge head.

Fig. 13 is a perspective of the front of the machine showing the controls for. the apparatus.

The pesticide distributing apparatus 14 (Figs. l. and 2) of the present invention is in the form of: a mobile unit adapted to be drawn. by a tractor (not shown) through the orchard or field to be treated, and has its controls so positioned as to be easily reached and operated by the. tractor driver. The apparatus 14 is mountedv on; wheels 16 (Figs. 1 and- 2) in a. conventional mannerandmay be connected to the tractor by a drawbar 8. The pesticide distributing apparatus 14 generally comprises an clone gated main body 2% of tubular construction which is divided. into an engine compartment 22 having an engine 24 therein, a liquid supply. section 26. having a liquid supply tank 28 therein, a. dust supply section 30' having a dust. hopper 32 therein and a. blower compartment 34 having a blower 36 therein. A dischargehead 38 is mounted for lateral movement behind the blower cornpartment 34. These dilferent parts. of the pesticide dis trihuting apparatus 14 can be arranged so that the ap paratus acts as a sprayer, a duster, or a liqui-duster. Also, the discharge. head 38 can be adjusted so that the pesticide will be directed up and outwardly or down and outwardly from both sides of the apparatus sirnultaneously, or from only one side of the apparatus at a time.

A self-priming spray pump 40 (Fig. 2 is mounted Within the engine compartment 22' and is driven by the engine 24 through a belt drive 42. The pump 40 draws liquid from the tank 28 through a suction conduit 44 and forces the liquid under pressure through a discharge pipe 46 which is connected to one end of a pair of flexible hoses 43 and 5d. The flexible hoses 4i and 50 each have a valve 52 (only one being shown) adjacent their midpoints. The hoses are of sufiicient length to allow the valves 52 to be clamped on the seat of the tractor (not shown) by any suitable means while one end of each hose on and 53 is connected to longitudinally extending pipes 54' and 56 (Fig. 6), respectively. The pipes 54 and 56 extend the full length of the main body 20 and are con nected at the rear of. the body toa pair of vertically extending headers 58 and 60 (Figs. 1 and 3),.respectively. by apair of hoses 62 and 6.4. The vertical headers 58 and 60' are mounted on opposite sides of the discharge head 38 and are connected to horizontal header exten sions 66 and as (Fig. 1), respectively, which are directed towards each other with each extension projecting inwardly approximately one half of the width ofthe head 33*. Both the headers. 53 and 69 and their horizontal extensions 65 and 63 are provided with. a plurality of spray nozzles 79 which discharge the high pressure fluid rearwardly of the apparatus 14. Each of the two valves 52 (only one being shown) can be regulated by the operator independently of the other to control the amount of spray emitted from the nozzles 70 on either side of. the apparatus.

The liquid supply tank 23 (Fig. 2) is: easily filled from a pond or other water source by utilizing the. suction of the pump 45*. In order to use the pump 40- to fill the tank 28,. the operator must connect a suction hose (not shown) into a hose fitting 72. in the suction. conduit. 44, and then close a valve 74 in the suction conduit 44 be tween the hose fitting 72 and the tank 28. Water drawn through the suction hose (not shown) by the pump 40 flows into the tank 28 through a by-pass conduit 76 which is connected between the tank 28 and the discharge pipe 46. The valves 52 must be closed and a valve 78 interposed in the by-pass conduit 16 must be open when the tank 23 is being filled. As the tank is being, filled, a powdered or liquid. insecticide is added to the water in the tank 28 through a door 80 provided for this purpose. The

'Waterentering'the tank 28 will help mix andevenly distribute the insecticide throughout the tank 28. In order to maintain the material in the tank 28 in a properly I mixed state after thetank has been filled and the valve 78 has been closed, an agitator 82 is rotatably mounted in the lower portion of the tank 28. The agitator 8 2 is driven bythe engine 24 through a chain drive 84 and other drive means which will be described in greater dea tail later.

connected to the output shaft 94 while the universal joint' 100 is connected to the shaft 102 of the'blower 36. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the drive shaft 96 projects through a-tubular passageway 104 in the liquid supply tank 28 1 and .through a tubular passageway 106 of rectangular cross-section inthe hopper 32. f

The conduit 160 extends upwardly and rearwardly from its inlet end and is connected'to a tubular housing 168 (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted around the shaft 102 and concentric therewith. One end of the housing 168 is closely adjacent the tubular inner shell 152 and is held in position by support brackets 170 which are bolted to a plate 169 covering the other end of-the housing 168 and to the supportrnember 112.

When the blower 36 is infoperatifln, a low pressure area is created rearwardly of each vane 148 around the holes 150 in the cylindrical shell 146. This lowpressure area induces aflow of air rearwardly-through the conduit'160, drawing dust from the hopper 32 and pulling it through the honsing 168}andit e dust-receivingchamber 153, and

thereafter through each of the radially extending tubes 15 6 into the main air'stream of the'blower;

In the present invention a unique arrangement, which is used for distributing dust into the condnit'160, pro- The blower shaft 102' (Figs. Zand 3) is mounted for rotation in bearings 103 and 110. The .bearing 108 is bolted-to a suitable support member 112 which is secured, as by welding, to the main body 20. The bearing 110 is bolted to'a round, vertically extending plate 114 welded to the inner'surface of a ring 116. The ring 116 is concentric with and is supported within a tubular air duct 118 bya plurality of radially extending, vortex straightening, fixed vanes 120. A dome shaped housing 122 is welded to the ring 116 to provide for a' more streamlined air flow past the ring 116. The forward end of the air duct 118 A is outwardly flared and is welded to the main body as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The circular rearend of the air duct 118 is integral with a restricting, upwardly flared nozzle 124 having inwardly tapered side walls 128 and 130, 'an upwardly flared top wall 132 (Fig. 2) and a. horizontal bottom wall 134 which terminates in a vertically elongated rectangular discharge orifice 135. A transversely extending end plate 136, having an opening that is equivalent in size to the discharge orifice 13-5, is rigid with the surfaces which define the discharge opening 135 and with the rearmost edge of the blower compartment 34 thereby supporting the discharge end of the nozzle TI-he blower 36 (Figs. 3 and 4) is of the axial flow typ'e and'comprises a hub 140 that is keyed on the blower shaft 102 and has a pair of circular plates 142 and 144 welded to the hub. A cylindrical shell 146, whichis equal in diameter and is coaxial with the ring 116, is welded on the plates 142 and 144 and is positioned closely adjacent the ring 116. A plurality of equally spaced curved vanes 148' are welded on the'outer surface of the cylindrical shell 146'. The blower 36 is driven in the direction of the arrow A (Figs. 4 and 5)" causing the vanes 143 to force a large-volume of air through the duct 118 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. A plurality of holes 150 (Figsi4 and 5) are drilled in the cylindrical shell 146 in such a manner that one hole is positioned on the suction side of each of the vanes 148. An inner cylindrical shell 152, positioned within and concentric with the shell 146, is welded to the plate 142 and cooperates with the hub 140 and plates7142 to define a dust receiving chamber 153. The shell 152 is provided with a plurality of angnlarly spaced holes 154, each of which is radially aligned with one of the holes 150 in the shell 146.1 A radially'extending tube 156 is connected between each hole 154 and its radially aligned hole 150.

In order to direct, into the main air stream of the blow- 7 er 36, dust which has been discharged from the hopper 32, an open ended tubular conduit 160 (Figs. 2 and 9) is connected to the bottom of the hopper 32 (Fig. 9) by means of a tab 162 welded on the conduit 160 and bolted to the hopper 32. Dust enters the conduit 160 through a slot 164'that receives dust from a metering device 174 which will be'described presently. A horizontal, diametrically extending shelf 166, welded in the conduit under the slot 164, provides means for contacting and causing a more uniform dispersal of the dust in the conduit.

vides an improved means of very accuratelymetering powdered material. Air is that introduced into' the dust and is completely mixed or fluffed into the'dust to change the physical characteristics of the dust from that of a pulverized solid to that of a liquid. This change to the physical characteristics of the materials is termed fluidization andcauses the dust to flow like a fluid, i.e., the dust particles will seek a commonlevel rather than adhere to each other to form a pile. Obviously such a change to the'dust permits a more accurate control of the metering operation. For accomplishing the above fluidization of the dust, the metering device 174 (Figs. 6,

a 7 and 9) is mounted adjacent the lower end of the hopper 32 with certain parts extending longitudinally through the hopper.

The dust supply hopper 32 is provided with a rounded top 176 (Fig. 6) and two inwardly and downwardly directed side wall members 178 and 180 terminating in a rounded bottom that is positioned closely adjacent the bottom of the dust supply section 30 of the main body 20. A dust admittance door 182 in the top of the hopper 32 allows bagsof dust to be dumped into the hopper 32 to fill the same. a

The metering device 174 (Figs. 6, 7"and 9) includes a fluidizing housing 184 bolted externally on the lower portion of one end wall 186 of the hopper. 32 and a dual bearing block 187 (Fig, 9) boltedto the other end wall 188 of the hopper 32. An agitator shaft 190 and a dust feed shaft 192 extend longitudinally through the hopper 32 and are mounted for rotation inspaced parallel relationship in the bearing block 187 and inbearings 19 6 in the housing 184. A tubular ,implementsupporting bar 198 is fixed on the shaft 190, while. a similartubular implement supporting bar 200 is fixed on the shaft 192. A

the dust toward the longitudinal center of thehopper 32.

A helical vane 206 (Fig. 9) is also welded on the bar 193 with one end of the vane 206 projecting into a fluidizing chamber 208 in the housing 184. The helical vane 206 causes dust in, thehopper 32'to move away from the housing 184, and because one end of the vane 206 projects into the chamber 208 the vane causes the excess fluidized material to be recirculated from the chamber 208 into the hopper 32 for each revolution of the shaft 190. In this way the fluidized material in the chamber 208 is maintained at a constant level.

A helically wound agitating rod 210'is mounted on the implement bar 200 by means of several radial pedestals causes the helical rod 210- (Fig. 9) to move the dust adjacent the bottom of the hopper 32 towards the housing 184 while the vane 214 positively feeds a small amount of dust into the fluidizing chamber 208 for each revolution of the shaft 192.

A rotor 216 keyed to the shaft 192 is positioned in the fiuidizing chamber 208 of the housing 184. When the shaft 192. is rotated, the rotor 216 aerates or fluidizes the dust by finding air into the dust. Although some air enters the fluidizing chamber through the dust in the hopper 32, it has been found that the dust in the hopper prevents air reaching the fiuidizing chamber 208 in Suficient quantifies. Because of this resistance to the entry of air into the fiuidizing chamber 298, additional air is introduced directly into the chamber by means of a vent pipe 218 which is screwed into the upper end of the housing 184.

The two shafts I90 and 192 are connected together by a chain 224 (Fig. 9) which is trained around sprockets 226 and 228 keyed to the shaft 190 and 192, respectively. The shaft 192 is driven from the blower shaft 102 (Figs. 2 and 3) through the following arrangement of drive parts. A drive sheave 230 which is keyed to the blower shaft 102 is connected to a driven sheave 232 by means of V-belts 234 and to an idler sheave 235 supported by a bracket 235a. The driven sheave 232 is keyed to a longitudinally extending idler shaft 236 which is mounted for rotation in bearings 237 (only one of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 6). The bearings 237 are bolted to brackets 238 which are, in turn, bolted on pedestals 240 (Fig. 2) and 242 (Fig. 6) which are rigidly secured to the main body 201 A sprocket 244 (Fig. 6) keyed to the idler shaft 236 drives a chain 246 which is trained around the sprocket 244, around an idler sprocket 252, around an idler sprocket 248 and around a sprocket 250 keyed to the shaft 192. The idler sprocket 248 is journall'ed for rotation in a bracket 254 bolted to an angle member 256- that is rigidly secured to the main body 20, as by welding. The idler sprocket 252 (Fig. 6). is keyed on a stub shaft 258 jonrnall'ed for rotation in a bearing 266 bolted to the pedestal 242. The blower shaft 102 is driven in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 and, consequently, the above described arrangement of parts causes the shafts 190 and 192 to be driven in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6). The aforementioned agitator 82 (Fig. 2) in the liquid supply tank 28 is driven from the idler shaft 236 by the aforementioned chain drive 84.

The bottom or lower wall of the fiuidizing housing 184 (Fig. 9) is in the form of an inverted channel 274 having a slot 276 extending longitudinally relative thereto. A resilient strap 278 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) having a plurality of dust discharge holes 28.8 (Fig. 8). therein, is seated in the channel 274 with the holes 280 aligned with the slot 276. The strap 278 (Fig. 7) is held in place by bolts 282 riveted to each end of the strap and are connected to the housing 184 by tabs 284 integral with the housing 184; A similar strap 286 seated in sliding engagement against the strap 278 is provided with a plurality of holes 288 (Fig. 8) which are equal in size to the holes 286 in the strap 278.. The ends of the strap 286 (Fig. 7) are pivotally connected to. an inverted U-shaped rocker arm 29% by adjusting bolts 292. The bolts 292 are screwed in pivot rods 294 around which the ends of the strap 236 are wound. The heads of the bolts 292 are held by angle brackets 296 pivotally connected to the rocker arm 2% by bolts 298. The rocker arm 290 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the fluidizing housing 184 by a bolt 360. It can be seen that pivotal movement of the rocker arm 290 will cause the strap 286 to slide against the strap 278 whereby the effective area of the dust discharge opening, as defined by the cooperating relationship of the holes 289 and 288 (Fig. 8) can be selectively varied from full open. to completely closed.

The rocker am 290 (Fig. 6) is pivoted about the bolt 380,, by means of an arm 302 which has. a slot 304 in one end and is rigidly bolted to the rocker arm 290. An actuating lever 306, having a roller 308 iournalled adjacent one end and positioned to ride in. the slot 304 is welded to one end of a control rod 310' which extends longitudinally of the apparatus 14 and terminates adjacent the forward end of the same. The control rod 310 is mounted for pivotal movement in several U-shaped' brackets- 312 bolted at spaced intervals to the outer surface of the main body 20. The control rod 310 is pivotally actuated by a feed control lever 314 (Fig. 13) which is pivotally mounted adjacent the forward end of the apparatus on the drawbar 1'8 and is connected to the control rod 319 by a linkage 316 so that pivotal movement of lever 314 causes rotation of the control rod. The-lever 314 is so positioned as to be easily reached and controlled by the operator While in the tractor seat.

In order to guide the discharged fluidized dust from the holes 286 and 288' (Fig. 8) and through the slot 164 into the tubular conduit 160, end walls 324 and 326 are. welded to the outer surface of the conduit 169 along the circumferential edges of the slot 164. The upperends of the end walls 324 and 326 project within the area defined by the inverted channel 274 of the housing 184 and terminate closely adjacent the strap 286. Spaced side walls 328 and 330 (Fig. 7) are welded between the end walls 324 and 326 and to the horizontal edges of the slot 164. The upper end of the side walls 328 and 330 terminate in the inverted channel 274 closely adjacent the strap 286.

The metered dust is drawn through the tubular conduit 169 by the induced air flow therein and is evenly distributed into the blower air stream through the tubes 156 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the blower. The blast of dust laden air is then directed into the restricting. nozzle I24 and past a plurality of horizontally disposed vanes 332. The vanes 332 are bolted to the side Walls 128 and 130 immediately adjacent the discharge orifice 135. The vanes 332 can be adjusted to deflect the air at greater or lesser angles relative to the horizontal to direct the air into the discharge head 38 in the most appropriate direction for the particular crop being treated. I

The discharge head 38 (Figs. 3', 10 and 11) is mounted above a horizontal extension 334 of the main body 20 and is positioned rearwardly of the blower compartment 34. Several grooved rollers 336 (only one being shown in Fig. 11), spaced transversely of the body 20 in planar alignment, are mounted for rotation on a transversely extending bracket 338 which is secured, as by bolting, to the main body projection 334. The base of the discharge head. 38 is in the form of a plate 340 having a downwardly turned lip 342 received in rolling engagement in the grooves formed in the rollers 336. The upper portion of the discharge head 38 is supported by means of an L-shaped guide block. 344 bolted. to the upper portion of the blower compartment 34. The lower end of the guide block 344' is in sliding engagement in a channel track 343 formed integrally with the forward Wall. 350 of the discharge head 38. The discharge head 38 is in this way mounted for lateral movement relative to the body 20.

The forward wall 350 has an opening; 352. (Fig. 3') which is aligned with and is equal in height to the discharge orifice of the restricting nozzle 124. The opening 352 is twice as wide as the discharge orifice 135 for reasons to be explained shortly. The forward wall 350 is connected to a parallel rear wall 354,. of approximately the same overall. size as the forward. wall 350, by a plurality of U-shaped horizontally extending straps 356 which are bolted to the walls 350 and 354. The lower ends of the forward. wall 350 and the rear wall 354 are of the bafiles, 364 in such 'a manner that one leg 3680f the member 366 is angledawayfrom its supporting bafile 3.64. and toward the straps 356. A vertically extending L-shaped deflecting vane'370 is provided for each baflie 364. One edge of each vane 370 is hinged in the cavity defined between the leg 368. and its associated baffle 364 while theotherend of the vane 370 is secured in adjusted position to .thestraps 356by bolts' 372 (Fig. ll) which extend through slots 374 in the straps'356.

Thevanes 370 can be adjusted into any one of a plurality of positions. Forexample, the lower ends of the vanes 370; can be locked in'position to close the lower portion of the side discharge openings while the upper end of the vanes 370 may be locked in the full open position. With the vanes 370 set in thisway, a larger proportion of the ainblast will be discharged outwardly and upwardly therefrom, which pattern of discharge is desired when treating orchards. V p If it should be desired to deflect the portion of the air 'blastiwhich would normally be discharged directly above the center of the discharge'head 38 outwardly from the sides thereof, a baflie 376 (shown in phantom in Fig. 10) is secured in any suitable way to the top of the discharge headjlrS. When treating row crops, the vanes 370 can be locked in a position where they close the upper portion of the side discharge outlet of the head 38 and open the bottom portion thereof. For this type of application, the entire upper surface of the discharge head 38 is closed by a plurality of baffles (not shown) which are similar to the baffles. 376.

V The discharge head 38 (Fig. 3) is arranged to be moved transversely intoone of three predetermined positions relative to the discharge orifice 135 of the nozzle 124. The discharge head 38 can be centrally positioned relative to the orifice 135 so that an equal amount of air is discharged outwardly from each side of the head 38. The head 38 can be moved toward the right side (Fig. 10) of the apparatus 14 so that all the air is discharged through the section 360 of the head 38 which directs the air out the left side of the head 38, or conversely, the head 38 may be moved towards the left side of the apparatus 14 sothat all the'air will be discharged through the section 362 away from the'right side of the machine. A shifting and latching device 386 (Fig. 12) is provided in order to 'move the discharge head 38 transversely into a selected one of these positions.

. 8 426 on the bolt 416 and the lever 408; A horizontally disposed spring .434 is connected between a lug.436 welded to the lever 408 and to an L-shaped bracket 438 welded to the arm 400. V

The spring 434 serves to compensate for theweight of a control lever 442 (Fig. 13) at the forward end of the apparatus 14 used for pivoting the control rod 392., The weight of the lever 442 tends to rotate the control rod392 in a clockwise direction (Fig.- 12) thus tending to'cause the actuating lever 408 to pivot'in the same direction. I If this movement. was not compensated for; the bolt 416 would be cammed upwardly to the unlocked position causing the entire discharge head 38 to move to its right hand position. ,3; e V.

The discharge headcontrol lever;442 (Fig; 2) is pivotally connected to the drawbar 18 at theforward end of the apparatus 14 in side by side relation with the feed control ,lever 314. Both of the levers 314 and 442 are extensible and may be" adjusted to a length which will place them in position to be easily reached by the operator while he is driving the tractor. The lever 442 projects through a slot 444 (Fig. 13) in-a curvedfbracket 446 bolted to the forward face 448 of the main body 20 and to the drawbar 18. The lever 314 projects through a similar slot 449 in the bracket 446. The bracket 446 is apertured to pivotally receive the forward end of the control rod 310 and the control rod 392 (Fig. 2). As previously mentioned, the linkage 316 (Fig; 13) pivotally connects the feed control lever 314 to the control rod 310. A similar linkage 450 (Fig. 2) is connected between the discharge head control lever 442 and the control rod 392 whereby a downward pivotal movement of the lever 442 will cause 7 the control rod 392 to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12. I

In the operation of the pesticide distributing apparatus 14 (Fig. 2) of the present invention, the apparatus is con- 7 nected to a tractor (not shown) by means'of the drawe The shifting and latching device 386 comprises a quadrant 388 bolted to a vertical 'end' surface 390 of the disextending control rod .392 (Figs. 1 and 12) extends the for pivotal movement in a hole in the lower portion of the quadrant 38 8. The upper edge of the quadrant 388 is 'arcuate and is provided with three radially spaced locking notches 394, 396 and 398. A shifting arm 400 is piv charge head supporting extension 334. Alongitudinallyfull length of the apparatus 14 with the rear end received otally supported on the control rod 392 and is pivotally a connected to the rear wall 354 of the discharge'head 38 by a bolt 404 which is slidable in a slot 406 in the arm 400. An actuating lever 408 is rigidly secured to the control rod 392 in position immediately adjacent the shifting'arm400. The actuating lever 408 is wider than the arm 400 and has actuatinglugs 410 and 412 on each upper corner of the lever 408 that project into the plane of the arm 400 to selectively contact and pivot the same in either direction about the axis of the control rod 392. A V-shaped'camming surface 414 on the upper end of the lever 408 serves to cause vertical reciprocal movement of a locking bolt 416 which is supported for. vertical bar 18. The valves 52 are clamped to the seat or to any other suitable portion of the tractor so as to be easily reached by the operator when he is sitting on the tractor seat. Spray material'is poured into the liquid supply tank '28 through the open door 80 and simultaneously therewith water is added to the tank 28. The water can be introduced into the tank either through the open door 80 or by utilizing the. suction of the pump. 40 as has already beerrdescribed. The dust hopper 32 is filled by dumping bags of dust into the hopper 32 through the open door 182.

Although the apparatus can be used independently as a sprayer or as a duster, the description of the operation of the apparatus when used as an applicator of both liquid and dust simultaneously, i.e., as a liqui-duster, will sufiice for all operations. After being loaded with spray material and dust, the pesticide. distributing apparatusi14 is pulled to the area to be treated by the tractor (not shown) and the engine 24 is started, supplying the power for driving the pump 40, the blower 36, the agitator 82 and the metering device 17 4.'

It will be assumed, first, that pesticide is to be applied to an orchard and that the pesticide is to be distributed evenly on both sides of the apparatus. The discharge head 38 is first moved to its central position by proper actuation of the lever 442. Both of the valves 52 are then turned on so that the liquid spray material is forced under pressure from the pump 40, through the hoses 48 and 50, through, the pipes 54 and 5 6, through the hoses 62 and 64, and into the headers 58 and 60 (Fig. 10) and the horizontal extensions 66 and 68 of the same. This liquid spray material is thereafter discharged through the spray nozzles 70 into the blower. air stream for entrainment therein. V

The operator then actuates the lever314 causing the rocker arm 290 (Fig. 7) of the metering device 174 to pivot, thereby moving the strap 286 relative to thestrap 278 so that the holes 288 (Fig. 8) will'be moved from a position spaced from the holes 280 to a position overlapping the holes 280. Since the fluidized em in thefinid. izing chamber 208 (Fig. 9). is: always maintained at the same. height by the helical vane. 296, which. withdraws excess material trom the chamber 268, the pressure head on the fluidized dust in the chamber 208 is. always substantially the same and. is not afiected by the amount or height of dust in the hopper 32. Hence, one setting of the lever 314 (Fig. 2'). wilt assure thev same rate of dis charge of fluidized dust from the chamber 208, (Fig. 9) without requiring a number of special adjustments during the liqui-dustingoperation to. compensate for changesv in the heights of the dust in the hopper 32.

The fluidized dust is discharged from the metering device 174' through the overlapping 1101:3239 and 288 and thereafter falls into. the conduit 1:60. The suction induced how of air through the conduit 160 entrains the dust and draws it into the chamber 153 (Fig. 3.), be.- tween the inner shell 1-52. and the hobbit) of the blower 36. White in the chamber 153, the fluidized dust is evenly distributed and flows out of the chamber 153 through the radial tubes 156 and into the main air stream of the blower 36. The dust laden blast of air is; then forced through the restricting nozzle 124' and past the vanes 332 into the discharge head 38. When in the head 33, the dust laden air is evenly divided: into tour separate lanes defined by the dividing member 35%- and the two closest- L-shapedbafides 364- oneach sideof"theduliding member 358. This division of the main air blast prevents concentration of thedust against the air blast turning surfaces in the bead and results in a more uniform distribution of the dust in the air blast.

With the vanes 37% set for orchard operation, i.e., closed at the bottom and opened a desired amount at the. top, a greater portion of the dust laden air is directed through the upper part of the head 38 than through, the lower part of the head 38-. Thus, a greater portion of the pesticide is directed toward the iarge upper portion of the trees where it is needed than toward the trunk of the tree. If it should be desired to prevent the dust laden air from flowing out of the central upper portion of the head 38, the bafiie 376 (Fig. 10) is used; As the dust laden air moves outwardly from the discharge head 38 past the nozzles 76, the liquid spray material emitted therefrom is entrained in the dust laden air blast and in this way is carried to the trees in the orchard.

If the operator should desire. to liqui-dust trees on only one side of the pesticide distributing apparatus. 14,. the operator first closes the valve 52 (Fig, 2 associated with the spray nozzles 7i on the other side. of the apparatus to prevent fluid from flowing through the nozzles 71). on that side of the machine. The operator their actuates the lever 442 to move the head away from the side to be treated sov that the entire air blast will be: directed out of the head 38 past all the bodies 364 (Fig. 10} and past all the vanes 3 70 on the particular side of the dividing memher 353 which directs the pesticide towards the proper side of the apparatus.

Because of the self-locking and self-releasing characteristics of the shifting and latching device 386 (Fig. 12"), the operator can easily and rapidly accomplish, the lateral shifting of the heady 38 to any of its three positions of adjustment without moving away from his operating position on the tractor seat.

It row crops are to be. treated, the entire top of the discharge head 38 is closed by the baffle 376 (Fig. 1d) and other bafiles (not shown) which are similar to the. bafiie 376. The deflector vanes 370 are then repositioned relative to their associated bafiies 364 so that the upper portion of the side outlets are closed and the lower portions are open. Hence, the air blast will then be di rected outwardly and, downwardly. In this: type of. application, the nozzles 70 on the horizontal: extensions. 66 and 68 of the headers 58. and 6.0 canbe removed. and the 10 extensions 66 and'68 plugged to prevent discharge of fluid therefrom.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the apparatus of the present invention is a versatileapparatus. which can. be used to apply pesticides, or the like, in the. forms of sprays, dusts, or the combination ofsprays and dusts, to, both orchards and row crops. The apparatus includes an: improved metering device for fiuidizing dust to. provide an: even and accurately controlled distribution of the same. The. metering device is arranged so that the amount of dust that-isintroduced into the air stream. for one setting of the metering holes will be unaffected by the height of the dust inthe hopper. Also included in the apparatus. is an improved discharge head which is arranged to be moved laterally of the apparatus and has certain 'bafiies which may be repositioned toobtainmany difierent types of discharge patterns. A unique shifting and: latching device formoviru; the discharge head transversely of the distributing apparatus is also included in the apparatus of the present invention.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it: will beunderstood" that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of'the invention or scope of the appended claims. Having thus described the present in vention and the manner in which the same is to be used, what is claimed as new and desired tobe protected by Letters Patent is:

I. In an apparatus for distributing agricultural chemica-ls, a hopper for powdered materialg. a blower adjacent said hopper, a housing connected to said hopper for receiving the powdered material from said hopper, said housing having a lower wall with an opening therethrough through which the material is discharged, means connected to" said housing for venting said housing direct- 1y to the atmosphere to provide an unobstructed flow of air thereinto, a power driven rotor in said housing for fiufiing air into said powdered material to fiuidize the same, adjustable discharge control means disposed over the opening in the lower wall of said. housing for regulating the amount of fluidized material discharge therefrom, and means connected between said housing and said blower for directing the fluidized material into the air stream of said blower.

2-. In an apparatus for distributingagricultural chemicals, a hopper for powdered material, a blower adjacent said hopper, a housing connected tosaid hopper and arranged to receive the powdered material from said hopper, said housing having a lower wall with an opening therethrough therein for discharging material therethrough, means connected to said housing for venting said housing directly to the atmosphere to provide an unobstructed flow of air thereinto, a power driven rotor in said housing for fiufiing airinto said powdered material to fiuidizethe same, a band clamped over the opening in the lower wall of said housing, said band having a hole communicating withsaid housing, a second band having a hole therein and being slidably engaged with said first band for movement from a position where said holes in the first and second bands are spaced from each other to prevent fluidized material from. flowing out of the housing to any of a range of positions where said holes are overlapped diiferent amounts to allow fluidized material in controlled quantities to flow from said housing, and means connected between said housing and said blower for directing the powdered material into the. air stream of said blower.

3. In. an apparatus for distributing agricultural chemicals, a. hopper for powdered material; a metering housing connected to said hopper for receiving the powdered material from said hopper, said housing having a lower wall with an opening therein for discharging the material; means connectedto said housing for venting said housing directly to the atmosphere to provide an unobstructed flow of air thereinto; a power driven rotor in said housing for flufling air into said powered material to fluidize the same; a power driven blower adjacent said hopper and having an inner cylindrical shell defining a dust receiving chamber and an outer cylindrical shell, a plurality of air propelling vanes secured to said outer shell and projecting outwardly :therefrom, apluf rality of radially extending tubes connecting saidchamher to the space outward of said outer shell at a point powdered material from said hopper, said housing having a lower wall with an opening for dischargingtthe material, means connecting to said housing for venting said housing directly to the atmosphere to provide an un: obstructed flow of airthereinto, a power driven rotor in said housing for fluffing air into, said powered material to fluidize the same, a power-driven innner cylindrical shell to define a dust receiving chamber, an outer cylindrical shell carried by said inner shell, a plurality of blower vanes on-said outer shell and projecting outward ly therefrom, a plurality of radially extending tubes connecting'said chamber to the space outwardly of said outer shell at a point adjacent the low pressure side of the vanes, a tubular housing having an open end in communication' with said inner shell and being coaxial with and the same size as said inner shell, a conduit connected at one end to said tubular housing and to the discharge opening in said metering housing at apoint adjacent the other end to receive fluidized material from said metering housing, said othenend of said conduit being open to the atmosphere, saidradial' tubes cooperating with said conduit and said tubular housing and said chamber to define flow passages through which air is conducted from the open end of the conduit to the low pressure area of the said vanes to entrain the fluidized dust therein and to direct equalquantities of said dust through said tubes, and into the main air stream'of said vanes.

' 5. In an apparatus for distributingagricultural chemicals having a hopper forpowdered materials, a meter ing device comprising a metering housing connected to said hopper for receiving powdered material therefrom, meanstconnected to said housing for venting said housing directly to the atmosphere, a first shaft rotatable in said hopperand in said housing and positioned adjacent the bottom thereof, a helical agitator rod on said shaft and arranged upon rotation of said shaft to agitate the pewdered material to direct it toward said housing, a helical 'feed vane on said shaft immediately adjacent said housing and arranged to force some of the powdered material from ,the hopper into the housing for each" rotation of the shaft, a rotor'on saidshaft positioned in said housing direct it toward said housing. I a I 6,. In an apparatus for distributing agricultural chem icals, 'a cylindrical body having a hopper for powdered material, a housing communicating with said hopper for receiving powered material therefrom, means connnected adjacent thelow pressure side. of said varies; and a con to said housing for venting said housing to the atmos- 'phere, (means in said housing for fiuffing from said venting means into said powered material to fluidize the same, a blower adjacent said hopper and arranged to createanmair blast, means for directing fluidized dust fromsaid housing into said air blast, a restricting nozzle adjacent said blower having an elongateddischarge orifice and arranged to restrict the air stream of'said blower, and direct the same through said elongated discharge orifice, a discharge headmounted immediately adjacent said dischargeaorifice to :receive :the .materialladen air stream, said head being arranged for lateral adjustment relative to said discharge orifice, said discharge head having an inlet-opening aproximatelyrtwice as wide. as said nozzleidischarge orifice, a plurality of vertically extending baffies in said discharge'head arranged to deflect the air outwardly from one side or both sides of said discharge head depending upon the lateral position of said discharge head, and means carried by said body and operatively connnected to said discharge head for moving the same laterally, of said discharge or'ifice. a

7. In'an apparatus for distributingagricultural chemicals, a cylindrical body having a hopper for powdered material, a housing connected to said hopper for receiving the powdered material, means connected to said housing for venting said housing to the atmosphere, means in said housing for flufling air from said vent-ing means into said powdered material to fluidize the same, a blower adjacent said hopper and arranged to create an air blast, means connected to said housing for directing fluidized dust into said air blast, a. restricting nozzle adjacent said blower having an elongateddischarge orifice and arranged 'to restrict the stream, of said blower and discharge the same through a vertically elongated discharge orifice,

v a discharge head mounted immediately adjacent said discharge orifice to receive the material laden air blast and arranged to be adjusted laterally relative to said discharge orifice, said discharge head having an inlet opening approximately twice as, wide as 'said nozzle discharge orifice, a vertically extending dividing member in said head, a plurality ofvrti'callyeitteriding baifles in said head on each side of said dividing member and arranged to direct the blast'upwar'dly away from the top of said head and outwardly from the sides of said head, and means ing for venting said housing'to the atmosphere, means in said housingfor flufling air from said venting means into said powdered material to fluidize' the same, a blower adjacent'said hopper and arrangedrto create an air blast, means connected to said housing for directing fluidized dust into said air blast, a restricting nozzle adjacent said blower having an elongated discharge orifice and arranged to restrict the air stream of said blower and direct the same through a vertically elongated discharge orifice, a discharge head mountedfimmediately adjacent said discharge orifice to receive the material laden air blast and arranged to "-be' adjusted laterally relative tosaid discharge orifice, a vertically extending dividing member in said head, a plurality of vertically extending baffles on each side of said dividing member and arranged to direct the air blast upwardly through the top of said head and outwardly from the'side of said head, a deflecting vane hinged on each of said baffles and adjustable relative to the bafiie to be moved through a range of positions from full open to'full closed, each of said vanes being arranged to be canted relative to-its associated baffle to define a vertically elongated'side opening of difierent width from the bottom to the top, and means carriedby said body and operatively connected to said discharge head for moving the same laterally of said discharge orifice from a position remote from said head.

9. An apparatus for distributing agricultural chemicals comprising a cylindrical body divided successively from end to end into an engine compartment having an engine therein, a dust supply section for holding powdered material therein, and a blower compartment having a blower therein operatively connected to said engine, spaced frame-like extensions carried :by said body to project longitudinally from the end thereof adjacent said blower compartment, a discharge head mounted on said extensions for movement thereon transversely of said body, means carried by said body and operatively connected to said discharge head to move the latter transversely of said body, said dust supply section including a hopper for holding the powdered material, and means vented directly to the atmosphere and connected to said hopper for receiving the powdered material from said hopper and fluidizing the received powdered material, conduit means connecting said vented means and said blower for conducting the fluidized material from said vented means to said blower, and means connected to said conduit means for directing the fluidized material into the air stream created by said blower.

10. An apparatus for distributing agricultural chemicals comprising an elongate body, ground engaging wheels mounted directly on said body intermediate its ends, said body divided successively from one end to the other into separate sections including an engine compartment having an engine therein, a dust supply section and a blower compartment having a blower therein; spaced frame-like extensions carried by said :body to project longitudinally from the end thereof adjacent said blower compartment, a discharge head mounted on said extensions for movement laterally of said body, a hopper for powdered material in said dust supply section, a housing connected to said hopper for receiving the powdered material from said hopper, means connected to said hopper for venting the hopper directly to atmosphere, power driven means disposed in said housing and operatively connected to said engine for flufling air into said powdered material to fiuidize the same, said housing having means through which the fluidized material is discharged, means connected between said discharge means in said housing and said blower for directing the fluidized material into the air stream created by said blower, and means connected between said blower and said discharge head for conducting the fluidized material laden stream from said blower to said discharge head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,596 Hait Apr. 19, 1955 2,770,069 Bowie Nov. 13, 1956 2,770,070 Funk Nov. 13, 1956 2,792,255 Bellows May 14, 1957 2,828,158 Patterson Mar. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,741 Sweden Oct. 21, 1952 

